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Peach Varieties Guide - Characteristics, harvest dates, and uses for eating, home canning, freezing and preserving- which peaches to pick and why!

Varieties of Peaches for Eating Fresh, Home Canning, Freezing and Preserving

Characteristics, descriptions, which to pick, when and why!

Out of the hundreds of varieties of peaches, each can be classified as clingstone, freestone, or semi-freestone / semi-clingstone. That refers to how firmly the flesh attaches to the pit. Freestone types are obviously the easiest to work with! As to flavor; the most important factor is fresh-picked.  Almost any variety, when allowed to ripen on the tree, will taste better than anything from the grocery store.  Peaches do not ripen (become more sweet) once picked, they simply soften (due to enzymes and bacterial action).

Stones or pits

Freestone: As its name implies, the stone is easily removed from this variety, making it a good choice for eating fresh. Harvest begins in late May and continues to October. This is the type most commonly found in your local grocery store. They tend to be larger than clingstones, with a firmer, less juicy texture, yet still sweet. They are excellent for home canning, freezing and baking purposes.

Semi-freestone: This newer type is a hybrid of the clingstone and freestone. It is good for general purposes, both fresh and canned. Also called semi-clingstone.

Clingstone: These are so named because the flesh clings stubbornly to the stone or pit. In the Northern hemisphere, this type is the first to be harvested, ripening May through August. The flesh is yellow, with bright red touches closest to the stone. They have a soft texture, and are juicier and sweeter -- perfect for desserts. This is the preferred variety for jellies, jams, and canning. Although clingstones are tasty eaten fresh, they are seldom found in the local market. The commercial industry uses clingstones for peaches canned in various levels of syrup.

Color of the peach flesh

Yellow - Most peaches have a yellow flesh which can range from a light yellow to an orange yellow or even streaked with red. Other yellow-fleshed peach varieties are primarily yellow but become red closer to the pit. Examples of yellow-fleshed peaches include cultivars such as "Elberta", "Autumn Gold," "Earligrande," "O'Henry," "Suncrest" and "Tropi-berta."

White - White-fleshed peaches are usually a variant of Asian peach trees. The flavor is almost identical, although many people say they taste sweeter. The skins are typically similar to yellow-flesh peaches, with yellow or red skins. Common white peach tree cultivars are "Babcock," "Nectar," "Belle of Georgia," and "Arctic Supreme."

Other Peach types

Donut Peaches - A relatively new group of peaches have flatter or saucer-shaped peaches that are shaped more like a doughnut. Donut peaches usually have a small clingstone pit. They taste good, but their flavor is no better than most other peaches; just marketing hype.

Nectarines are a genetic mutation of peaches that produced a skin without the fuzz. Essentially, that is the  only difference. Nectarine may have yellow or white flesh and clingstone or freestone pits. Common nectarine varieties include "Arctic Rose," "Harko" and "Panamint." Dwarf nectarine cultivars include "Nectar Babe" and "Southern Belle."
 

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Peach and Nectarine Varieties for Eating Fresh, Home Canning, Freezing and Preserving

Alphabetized List below

(for a list sorted by typical ripening/harvest dates, click here.)

Early season typically means June in the South, July in the North (and colder areas).

Mid Season usually means July.

Late season is August in most areas.

Of course, there are many seasonal variations, weather plays an effect, micro climates at the farm, so ALWAYS contact the farm early to find out when the peaches will be ripe at the specific farm that interests you!

 

For photos of most of these peaches see this UC Davis page.

 

Peach-Varieties-Growing-Selection.php

Chilling hours - Important if you want to grow your own peaches

See this page for chilling hours requirements by variety

 Be sure to see our easy, illustrated how-to pages to make and preserve your own:

1. Peach picking tips
    
2. Now, get ready to preserve your peaches - It is VERY easy - especially with our free
    - peach jam instructions - they're illustrated and easy and our page on
    - how to make home canned peaches from fresh!
   - Or see here to freeze peaches instead!
   - make your own home canned peach pie filling to use in the winter
   - or how about peach salsa?
   - Peach chutney
   - Spiced peaches
   - peach butter
   - pickled peaches?
   -
    
3. Here are some great and easy peach desert recipes, like 
   Peach pie shown at right, below,
   or peach-blueberry pie
   and easy peach cobbler.

 

 

 

 

 

Growing Peaches - Peach Guides for Specific States and Regions

• AL - Suggested Peach Varieties for Alabama
• CA - California peach varieties to grow
• GA - Peach Varieties for Georgia;
  Growing peaches in Georgia
• SC - Best peach varieties for South Carolina
  Growing peaches Clemson University peach pages
• NJ - White and Yellow Peach Varieties for New Jersey
• NY - Peach and nectarine varieties for New York State
• OR - Peach and Nectarine Nectarine Varieties for the Willamette Valley (Oregon)
• VA - Peach and Nectarine Varieties for Virginia
• UT - Peaches for Utah

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Home Canning Kits This is the same type of  standard canner that my grandmother used to make everything from peachesauce to jams and jellies to tomato and spaghetti sauce. This complete kit includes everything you need and lasts for years: the canner, jar rack, Jar grabber tongs, lid lifting wand, a plastic funnel, labels, bubble freer, and the bible of canning, the Ball Blue Book. It's much cheaper than buying the items separately. You will never need anything else except jars and lids (and the jars are reusable). To see more canners, of different styles, makes and prices, click here!

Lids, Rings, Jars, mixes, pectin, etc. Need lids, rings and replacement jars?  Or pectin to make jam, spaghetti sauce or salsa mix or pickle mixes?  Get them all here, and usually at lower prices than your local store! Get them all here at the best prices on the internet!